France kicks off World Cup knockout campaign against Sweden with Mbappé and Dembélé leading the charge

Perfect group stage

France cruised through Group I with three victories, beating Senegal 3-1, Iraq 3-0 and Norway 4-1. That run echoed the 1998 champions, the last French side to win all group matches. Across those games Les Bleus scored 10 goals, matching Germany and the Netherlands as the tournament's most prolific attack.

Firepower up front

Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé have each scored four times in the competition so far. Their World Cup chemistry is historic: the two have combined for five goals (three Dembélé assists to Mbappé, two the other way), a tally that equals the best attacking duos in World Cup history since 1966. Mbappé, now 27, sits on 16 career World Cup goals and can break the knockout-stage record of 8 he currently shares with Brazil's Leônidas and Ronaldo.

Midfield questions

Despite the scorelines, French media note a lack of fluency in central midfield. Deschamps is expected to field a double pivot of Aurélien Tchouaméni and Adrien Rabiot, with Manu Koné available from the bench. The full-back slots may rotate between Lucas Digne and Théo Hernandez.

Sweden's uneven path

Sweden advanced as one of the best third-placed teams after a mixed group phase: a 5-1 win over Tunisia, a heavy 5-1 defeat to an unnamed opponent, and a 1-1 draw with Japan. The Scandinavians will rely on defensive solidity and the counter-attacking threat of Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres, both already on the scoresheet in the tournament.

The challenge ahead

For France, a team carrying clear title ambitions, this round-of-32 tie is billed as the first serious test of maturity. Sweden, unfancied but historically awkward, plan to make life difficult in New Jersey.